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they made the link between her and the legend. As much as
the rogues would like everyone to believe they re packless,
they do have each
other.
Something no one considered when they tossed out the
mixed-bloods, Wyatt added dryly.
Daire nodded. In the past the lost had disappeared into the
human world where their werewolf attributes had given
them an edge, but in the last century there d been a shift.
The lost still banded together, but their targets were
becoming pack.
Donovan took a couple steps toward Daire. Speaking of
tossing out. On behalf of my mate, I thank you, Daire.
Don t be thanking him, Wyatt snapped. He went against
my direct orders.
Donovan cocked a brow at Wyatt. To avenge my mate.
And I find it hard to believe that he disobeyed your direct
orders. Ancient or not, he s a Protector.
Who hasn t sworn allegiance to this pack.
As far as I m concerned he s displayed it; the words aren t
necessary.
Wyatt s jaw set. The words are always necessary.
There was more Carmichael in Wyatt than Daire had
imagined. I didn t break my vow. I promised you I d
influence them and I would not draw attention.
A bar fight in the middle of town doesn t draw attention?
A bar fight in the pool hall is normal for a Saturday night.
And it s not as if Buddy hasn t lost a fight before.
True.
Daire could sense the anger and frustration emanating
from Wyatt. He was trying to do the impossible. He wanted
a bloodless coup. Slide the Haven pack into what had once
been a lumber town using the economy as a cloak. But
Buddy s family had a vested interest in this town.
Too much was at stake. His own frustration surged. He
could just kill the remaining residents, drive them out the
old-fashioned way through fear and violence.
The immediate no that whipped through him surprised him.
He needed this pack for Teri, for the union. He dug his
claws into his palm. For his sanity. None of which he let
show. An unstable ancient was nothing anybody wanted
around.
I need to go check on Teri if you re done.
You re sure there s no indication what pack this wolf is
from?
The one Daire lost? Donovan asked, an edge to his
voice.
Wyatt waved him quiet. Let s not start warring with each
other.
Daire bit back a retort and stood. No, but it shouldn t be
hard to find him. I ll get on it as soon as I check on Teri.
This time Donovan shook his head no. Kelon and I will
handle it.
Daire didn t ask how they d know which one it was. It really
didn t matter; this was Haven territory.
Any wolf not Haven would be up to no good. Any wolf not
Haven would need to be dealt with.
It went against his grain to delegate but on the edge of his
consciousness he could feel Teri s distress rising. He d
been too long apart from her. He frowned. She shouldn t be
needing him yet.
Was her condition worsening? Was she relapsing?
He nodded. The Thank you came hard. He left the room,
not realizing until he was on the porch that Donovan had
had his hand out when he thanked him in the human way,
offering him the handshake that forged bonds. He shook
his head and stepped down into the yard, unsure how he
felt about the offer, unsure how he felt about missing it.
TERI stood by the window, holding herself upright through
sheer force of will. Her body ached with weariness, but at
the same time, she was consumed with a restless, negative
energy.
She couldn t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
She pulled the curtains back. She could see a man stride
out from under the porch roof and into the yard. Daire. A
shiver went down her spine. The curtain crumpled in her
grasp. He turned and looked up. She hated that ponytail.
Even from here she could see the scars on his face. She
brought her hands to her neck. The roughness of her own
scars abraded her fingertips.
His eyes met hers. She wanted to drop the curtain back, to
block his gaze. She couldn t. He stood there staring, as if
he couldn t break the connection, either.
You need to sit here with me and face your life.
She didn t want to be alive. She didn t want to sit with him,
be with him.
Liar.
His voice or hers? The answer when it came was shocking
in its abruptness. Hers. She clutched the window jamb. She
did want to be alive. She did want to be with Daire.
Because he was so scary.
Because he was so big. Because with him, there was no
way anything bad could happen to her.
Because he knew her in ways no one else did. Because he
was telepathic. Because he d touched her daughter s mind.
Because her daughter had not died without knowing
someone s touch. She sobbed, biting her knuckle. Her
knees crumpled. She slid down the wall. Because she
owed him for that.
The door creaked open. Arms came around her. She didn t
need to ask whose. Only Daire could move that fast. Only
Daire cared that much. Because he was wolf. Like the men
who d raped her.
He turned her into his chest as he knelt beside her. Not like
them.
His scent smoothed over her. Clean and earthy with a touch
of musk. It d been her talisman as the pain had raged. As
she had raged, fighting for life and then fighting for death to
be with her baby, but he hadn t let her go. She hit his
shoulder as the sense of loss rolled over her again.
The sob caught in her throat, choked her.
Why? Why wouldn t he let her go? Why did he make her
stay?
She felt the brush of his lips over her hair. Because I need
you.
You don t know me.
I know. His finger under her chin lifted her face. But I ve
waited centuries for the chance.
OH, God.
He was telling the truth. He saw her as his mate. It can t be
me. She was broken, scarred, incapable of loving, barely
able to live.
His gaze didn t flinch from hers. It can t be anyone else.
Of course it can. They wouldn t have raped me if there
can t be more than one; they wouldn t have come hunting
me. There was a flicker in the energy blending with hers.
What?
He didn t answer, just rubbed his thumb along her
cheekbone. Oh, my God, they didn t come for me.
You would have been a bonus.
Sarah Anne.
Again that fluctuation in his energy that she was recognizing
meant a negation. That left only three others. She
remembered the wolf that had gone after Megan. There
had been such determination in his eyes. Such hatred.
Oh, no. Megan. They want Megan.
They won t get her.
Why?
There s a legend among the wolves about a child who will
be of two worlds. A child of power.
She shook her head. Megan can t even change.
Her power is not that of a wolf. That s what scares them.
But they tried to kill her.
Some believe the child can be used. Others believe she ll
be the downfall of all pack. The legend is why wolves have
no tolerance for telepaths.
You re a telepath. It was strange to say that out loud.
Yes.
It was stranger to hear him agree as if that had no import.
But he d just told her that wolves didn t tolerate telepaths,
which meant he had not been tolerated. If anyone knew.
Did people try to kill you?
No one succeeded.
Which wasn t an answer. Teri rubbed her fingers across her
scars. It s just a legend.
A very old legend.
That some believe. She looked up. Do you?
His gaze didn t flinch from hers. No.
There was no ripple in his energy.
I believe you.
I cannot lie to you.
So you keep telling me.
The corners of his mouth twitched. In the hope that you ll
eventually believe.
Because he didn t want her to know he could? Her head
began to ache. She leaned against his chest as the
weariness rose with the pain. Will I ever get better?
You almost are.
It s only been a few days!
His palm curved over her shoulder. Then why are you
complaining?
I m not. But she was wondering. If he could do so much,
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